The Case Of The Disappearing Broadband...

Hi.

About a year ago, I signed up with Pipex for a BB
connection.

Using a Bog-standard pc, Win98se + D-LinkDSL200 USB
modem, was getting fine up and download speeds and
great, reliable connections.

About 2 months ago, everything started going to shit.
Only got a connection about 1 time in 3, and kept getting
dropped, sometimes after 3 hours, sometimes after 3
minutes. Eventually I can't get a connection at all.
Each time I try to "dial in", it gets to "verifying
username and password", waits around, and about 30
seconds later times out and comes back with an error
dialog about error 650, saying that the computer can't
establish a network connection, and to check my
network server settings etc.

What gives? I didn't change anything at my end.

I dropped in a spare drive, and did a clean install
of win98SE, ADSL modem drivers and nothing else.
Still can't get a connection, same error.

Pipex tech support have been very understanding,
but clearly do not have clue as to what's going on.
i.e. They are as baff;ed as me.

Any hints, ideas or advice?

Best,

Tim.


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USB Modems can cause problems. My suggestion would be to switch over to
Ethernet modem / router.
The router connects to ADSL without any 'help' from your computer,
therefore if the problems persist you will know it's BT's problem and Pipex
should sort them out.
Regards,
Martin

> About 2 months ago, everything started going to shit.

Have you noticed any line noise when you make phone calls ? (there`s
always a chance it might be a damp connection somewhere within BTs
network)

Does it get better if the weather dries up for a couple of days ?

Have you added any other USB devices since the modem was installed - it
might be worth unplugging them temporarily to see if that helps.

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"Martin²" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:wH1Mb.21682$(E-Mail Removed)...
> USB Modems can cause problems. My suggestion would be to switch over to
> Ethernet modem / router.
> The router connects to ADSL without any 'help' from your computer,
> therefore if the problems persist you will know it's BT's problem and
Pipex
> should sort them out.
> Regards,
> Martin

I hear what you're saying Martin. BT's scheduled to
run a line test some time tonight after the last attempt
was cancelled because "the modem wasn't switched on"
(it was - I was peering at 2 green lights all the time).

If this test doesn't work, I may have to bite the bullet
and spend the moolah as you suggest...

Cheers,

Tim.


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"Colin Wilson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) t...
> > About 2 months ago, everything started going to shit.
>
> Have you noticed any line noise when you make phone calls ? (there`s
> always a chance it might be a damp connection somewhere within BTs
> network)

The phone line seems pretty quiet, I'm afraid.

>
> Does it get better if the weather dries up for a couple of days ?
>
> Have you added any other USB devices since the modem was installed - it
> might be worth unplugging them temporarily to see if that helps.
>

Added a lead for a digital camera, but the device itself
is only plugged in when I'm pulling the pictures onto me pc.


Cheers for chipping in, all contributions are welcome...

Tim.

> --
> Please add "[newsgroup]" in the subject of any personal replies via email
> * old email address "btiruseless" abandoned due to worm-generated spam *
> --- My new email address has "ngspamtrap" & @btinternet.com in it ;-) ---


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"Tim Cain" <tim_no1@you_know_what_to_cut_timcain.co.uk> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi.
>
> About a year ago, I signed up with Pipex for a BB
> connection.
>
> Using a Bog-standard pc, Win98se + D-LinkDSL200 USB
> modem, was getting fine up and download speeds and
> great, reliable connections.
>
> About 2 months ago, everything started going to shit.
> Only got a connection about 1 time in 3, and kept getting
> dropped, sometimes after 3 hours, sometimes after 3
> minutes. Eventually I can't get a connection at all.
> Each time I try to "dial in", it gets to "verifying
> username and password", waits around, and about 30
> seconds later times out and comes back with an error
> dialog about error 650, saying that the computer can't
> establish a network connection, and to check my
> network server settings etc.
>
> What gives? I didn't change anything at my end.
>
> I dropped in a spare drive, and did a clean install
> of win98SE, ADSL modem drivers and nothing else.
> Still can't get a connection, same error.
>
> Pipex tech support have been very understanding,
> but clearly do not have clue as to what's going on.
> i.e. They are as baff;ed as me.
>
> Any hints, ideas or advice?
>
> Best,
>
> Tim.

Tim,
Taking that nothing has changed at your end, your account is active and
there is no problem with pipex,
get pipex to contact BT, who should be able to fix this remotely or they may
send an engineer, the fact they could not see you connected/in synch and you
were(error 650), may mean possibly your virtual paths/circuit has been
corrupted...don't ask how but it happens or why or maybe that you exchange
may have been upgraded, new Dslams...more techno waffle, but basically your
virtual cct is existing on two different sets of equipment...I think they
call these erx...Like I said you may or may not need an engineer but contact
pipex and get them to set the wheels in motion

HTH and you get it sorted

"dr.black" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:btrucm$d0a$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> >
[snip tale of ADSL woe]
> >
>
> Tim,
> Taking that nothing has changed at your end, your account is active and
> there is no problem with pipex,
> get pipex to contact BT, who should be able to fix this remotely or they
may
> send an engineer, the fact they could not see you connected/in synch and
you
> were(error 650), may mean possibly your virtual paths/circuit has been
> corrupted...don't ask how but it happens or why or maybe that you exchange
> may have been upgraded, new Dslams...more techno waffle, but basically
your
> virtual cct is existing on two different sets of equipment...I think they
> call these erx...Like I said you may or may not need an engineer but
contact
> pipex and get them to set the wheels in motion
>
> HTH and you get it sorted
>
>

Thanks for them words of encouragement and advice Dr.
BT are supposed to be running comprehensive tests on
the line overnight, tonight, which involves leaving the
PC and modem powered up. If this goes up the left,
it's time to get the engineer out.

At the moment, I've got me old ClaraNet account, and
a (free) dialup with Pipex. Just ain't the same though...

Again, thanks for chipping in.

Tim.



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